Sports

Alabama Holds Off Arkansas Rally In 85-81 Win

Published

1 year ago

February 8, 2025

Grant Merrill

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorbacks staged a furious comeback in the final minutes, but the Alabama Crimson Tide held on for a thrilling 85-81 victory at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday night.

Trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half, Arkansas (14-9, 3-7 SEC) clawed its way back behind the efforts of Zvonimir Ivisic and Billy Richmond. Ivisic’s up-and-under layup in the final minute brought the Razorbacks within one possession, 83-80, with 38 seconds remaining. However, Alabama (20-3, 9-1 SEC) maintained its composure, securing the win as Arkansas failed to get the final stop it needed.

Second-Half Surge Falls Short

The Razorbacks found themselves in deep trouble early in the second half, with Alabama pushing its lead to 73-55 at the 7:05 mark. The Crimson Tide dominated inside, finishing with 48 points in the paint and shooting an impressive 57.7% from the field. Arkansas struggled to slow down Alabama’s offensive attack, as Mark Sears and Grant Nelson found consistent success near the rim.

Momentum finally swung in Arkansas’ favor as the team’s defensive intensity led to transition buckets. A 14-6 run midway through the second half brought the crowd back into the game. Nelly Davis, who scored 11 points, sparked the comeback with a personal 5-0 run, forcing Alabama to call a timeout at the 5:53 mark.

With the home crowd roaring, the Razorbacks continued to fight. Richmond slammed home a dunk, and Ivisic drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 79-76 with under two minutes remaining. But despite the late heroics, Arkansas could not overcome Alabama’s lead.

First Half Woes Set the Stage

Arkansas kept the game within reach in the first half, but scoring droughts plagued the Razorbacks. After a promising start from Ivisic, who finished with a team-high 15 first-half points, the Razorbacks endured a nearly six-minute scoring drought. Alabama took full advantage, racking up 24 points in the paint and heading into halftime with a 40-34 lead.

Adou Thiero, Ivisic, and Davis all found themselves in foul trouble before halftime, disrupting Arkansas’ offensive flow. Despite forcing nine first-half turnovers, the Razorbacks struggled to convert on the other end.

What’s Next

The loss is a tough blow for Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament hopes, but the Razorbacks have shown resilience on the road in recent games. They will look to bounce back in their next matchup, hoping to regain momentum in the SEC standings.

Meanwhile, Alabama extends its winning streak to six games and strengthens its case as a top contender in the conference. The Crimson Tide will aim to continue their dominance as they return home for their next contest.

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Sports

Camden Fairview Hires New Football Coach

Published

2 weeks ago

February 18, 2026

Grant Merrill

CAMDEN — The Camden Fairview School Board approved the hiring of Jamie Carter as the next Camden Fairview Cardinal head football coach and assistant athletic director during its regular board meeting Monday night.

Carter comes to Camden Fairview from Marion, where he most recently served as associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. He previously spent four years as head football coach and assistant athletic director at Osceola, compiling an 18–5 conference record. Carter brings 17 years of coaching experience, including two seasons as Marion’s defensive coordinator.

“I am truly honored and grateful to be named the Head Football Coach at Camden Fairview High School,” Carter said. “This is more than just a position; it’s an opportunity to serve young men, build meaningful relationships, and represent a proud community the right way.”

Carter emphasized his commitment to discipline, accountability, trust, and respect, saying those principles will serve as the foundation of the program. He added that values instilled in him by his parents—hard work, character, integrity, and treating others with respect—are the same standards he expects from his players.

The coaching search began January 9, when former head coach Nick Vaughn announced his resignation to accept the head coaching position at Maumelle. The interview committee included Assistant Athletic Director Johnny Jackson, Assistant Superintendent Andre Toney, Assistant Superintendent Cara Bowie, Human Resources Director Fred Lilly II, and Cardinal football booster club president Jamie Semple. Interviews were conducted last week before Superintendent Mrs. Armstrong met with Carter and presented her recommendation to the school board.

“Our community has always shown strong support for our students and for Cardinal athletics,” Armstrong said. “I’m confident that Coach Carter is the right leader to continue building on our proud tradition of Cardinal Football, developing our student-athletes, and moving our program forward with integrity and purpose.”

Carter is scheduled to meet with Cardinal football players on Monday, February 23, and the district will host a community meet-and-greet on Thursday, March 19. Additional details are expected to be released in the coming days.

Sports

West Side Christian Warriors and Lady Warriors Dominate at HCAA Quarter Finals in Ft. Smith

Published

3 weeks ago

February 17, 2026

Jax Sanford

The West Side Warriors of El Dorado hosted the Regional Heartland Christian Activities Association (HCAA) Regional Basketball Tournament for boys and girls teams over Valentine’s Day weekend, where they came out on top of the tournament in dominant fashion. West Side Warriors and Lady Warriors won their games and advanced to the HCAA Quarter Finals hosted in Fort Smith, AR. It was there where they, again, showed their dominance and advanced to the Semi-Finals to be played in Oklahoma City, OK on February 20, 2026 @ The Firelake Arena. The winner of that matchup will play in the Championship, also hosted in OKC on February 21, 2026.

West Side Lady Warriors won 43-5 over the Southwest Christian Lady Lions in the Quarter Finals in Fort Smith during their 2 pm matchup. They showed a dominant effort on the boards, defense, and efficient scoring opportunities.

West Side Warriors Boys won 62-49 over the Lakewood Christian Lions in their 3:30 pm Quarter Finals matchup in Fort Smith. The Warriors showed hustle, grit, and determination to come out of this tournament the victors.

West Side Jr. High Warriors finished 2nd in the 2A HCAA State Tournament after falling to Garrett Memorial out of Hope, AR.

Sports

El Dorado Cheer Wins National Championship

Published

1 month ago

February 1, 2026

Grant Merrill

ORLANDO, FL – El Dorado High School’s cheerleading team claimed a national championship on Sunday, winning the Division II title at the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship, part of the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC), in Orlando, Florida. The Wildcats competed against top Division II programs from across the country at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, emerging as national champions on cheerleading’s biggest high school stage.

The NHSCC is the premier national competition for high school cheer teams in the United States and is organized by Varsity Spirit and the Universal Cheerleaders Association. Each year, it brings together elite programs from across the nation to compete for national titles in multiple divisions, with teams judged on execution, difficulty, synchronization, crowd leadership, and overall performance.

El Dorado advanced through preliminary rounds earlier in the weekend before taking the floor Sunday in the championship finals. The Wildcats delivered a clean, confident routine featuring strong stunting, tumbling, sharp motions, and high energy, separating themselves from a highly competitive Division II field to secure the championship.

The national title reflects months of preparation, discipline, and teamwork by the athletes and coaching staff. It also places El Dorado High School among the nation’s elite cheer programs for the 2025–26 season.

The competition was streamed nationally on Varsity TV, allowing family members, classmates, and supporters back home to watch the Wildcats’ championship performance in real time. With the Division II NHSCC title, El Dorado High School adds a significant national accomplishment to its athletic tradition and brings home a championship that will be celebrated throughout the school and community.

Sports

Hogs Roll Past Vanderbilt In Statement Win

Published

1 month ago

January 21, 2026

Grant Merrill

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 20 Arkansas delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, dominating No. 15/14 Vanderbilt 93-68 at Bud Walton Arena.

Six Razorbacks scored in double figures as Arkansas (now 4-0 in ranked matchups this season) used balanced offense, high-efficiency passing, and stifling defense to cruise past the Commodores in their eighth all-time meeting as ranked opponents.

Trevon Brazile recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, and added five assists, four steals, and two blocks. Darius Acuff Jr. led the scoring with 17 points and five assists — all in the second half — while Meleek Thomas added 13 points and five assists. Malique Ewin and Karter Knox each scored 16, and D.J. Wagner contributed 11 off the bench in a strong bounce-back performance.

Head coach John Calipari moved Wagner to the bench to “get him going,” and the sophomore responded with efficient play — three assists, no turnovers, and confident scoring.

Arkansas led 46-35 at the half after racing out to a 13-2 start and holding a 20-point advantage midway through the opening frame. The Hogs never looked back. They shot 54.5% from the field in the first half and out-rebounded Vandy 23-13, then torched the Commodores for 61.3% shooting in the second half while forcing cold shooting on the other end.

Vanderbilt (previously 10th nationally in scoring and 24th in field goal percentage) was held to just 68 points on 37.9% shooting. Tyler Nickel was the only Commodore in double figures with 17 — all in the first half.

Arkansas totaled 25 assists to just seven turnovers and threw down 13 dunks, including four by Ewin and three from Nick Pringle.

With the win, Arkansas improves to 32-15 all-time against Vanderbilt and 17-5 in Fayetteville. The 25-point victory marked the fourth-largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history.

The Razorbacks return to action Saturday night when they host LSU at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

Sports

Muleriders Set For In-State Road Trip

Published

1 month ago

January 21, 2026

Grant Merrill

MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Southern Arkansas men’s basketball (7-9, 4-6 GAC) hits the road for a pair of key in-state matchups this week, visiting Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before facing Henderson State on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday marks the 118th meeting between SAU and UAM, with the Muleriders holding a 73-44 series lead. They’ll then square off with Henderson State for the 120th time, with the Reddies leading 64-55 all-time.

SAU looks to bounce back after a tough 69-64 home loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State. Greg Moore Jr. led the way with 22 points, his best since early December. Junior Williams added 12, and Jair Horton finished just shy of a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Despite the loss, the Muleriders shot a strong 46.2% from the field and 47.1% from three.

Moore continues to shine at the line, ranking second in the GAC with a 91.1% free throw percentage. As a team, SAU leads the conference in three-point shooting at 34.4%.

Thursday’s opponent, UAM (7-9, 3-7 GAC), enters on a two-game skid and sits just below SAU in the standings. Ashton Price leads the Boll Weevils with 14.6 points per game, while Isaac Jackson adds 13.7. UAM averages 66.1 points per game and shoots 45.4% from the floor.

Saturday’s opponent, Henderson State (8-8, 5-5 GAC), also comes in after back-to-back losses, including a triple-overtime battle with nationally ranked SNU. The Reddies average 76.6 points per game and are led by Zaveion Okoh (15.8 ppg) and Xavier Owens (12.9 ppg).

Both games will be streamed live on YouTube through UAM and HSU’s athletic channels, with radio coverage on KVMZ 99.1 FM. The matchups mark the start of a four-game road stretch for the Muleriders.